A　rapid,　sensitive,　and　label-free　SERS　detection　method　for　bacteria　pathogens　is　reported　for　the　first　time.　The　method,　which　is　based　on　the　combination　of　polyethylenimine　(PEI)-modified　Au-coated　magnetic　microspheres　(Fe3O4@Au@PEI)　and　concentrated　Au@Ag　nanoparticles　(NPs),　was　named　the　capture-enrichment-enhancement　(CEE)　three-step　method.　A　novel　Fe3O4@Au　microsphere　with　monodispersity　and　strong　magnetic　responsiveness　was　synthesized　as　a　magnetic　SERS　substrate　and　amino　functionalized　by　PEI　self-assembly.　The　negatively　charged　bacteria　were　quickly　captured　and　enriched　by　the　positively　charged　Fe3O4@Au@PEI　microspheres,　and　the　bacteria　SERS　signal　was　synergistically　enhanced　by　using　Fe3O4@Au@PEI　microspheres　and　Au@Ag　NPs　in　conjunction.　The　CEE　three-step　method　proved　useful　in　tap　water　and　milk　samples,　and　the　total　assay　time　required　was　only　10　min.　Results　further　demonstrated　that　the　CEE　three-step　method　could　be　a　common　approach　for　detecting　a　wide　range　of　bacteria,　as　verified　by　its　detection　of　the　Gram-positive　bacterium　E.　coli　and　Gram-positive　bacterium　S.　aureus　at　a　detection　limit　of　as　low　as　103　cells　per　mL.　Therefore,　our　CEE　three-step　method　offered　the　significant　advantages　of　short　assay　time,　simple　operating　procedure,　and　higher　sensitivity　than　previously　reported　methods　of　SERS-based　bacteria　detection.